2021 AAHD Graduate Handbook
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MFA Handbook Department of Art, Art History, and Design Michigan State University 2021 NOTES xxx
Transcript of 2021 AAHD Graduate Handbook
MFA HandbookDepartment of Art, Art History, and Design
Michigan State University
2021
NOTES
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Our graduate program is values-driven,meaning that the policies and curriculumdescribed in this handbook are generatedfrom the four principles articulated below.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Department of Art, Art History, and Design is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusiveenvironment where students and faculty will foster a culture of learning activated by difference.
Reciprocity
This MFA program is intentionally adaptive. We have as much to learn from our students as they dofrom us. Student growth, faculty growth, institutional growth — we are not here just to give studentsknowledge; we are here to seek, to travel, to discover together.
Learner Agency
This MFA program will set the stage for a significant studio experience without choreographing everymove. We will ask graduate students to take an active role in determining the parameters under whichthey will thrive.
Campus Integration
This MFA program contains mechanisms for engagement with the MSU community at large. AAHDstudents, staff, and faculty will commit to building bridges with a diverse range of units at MSU whilealso serving as a center for collaboration. This centrifugal/centripetal relationship will enableprovocative modes of thinking and making, while simultaneously braiding together the collective visionof our university, college, and department.
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Table of Contents
Welcome to MSU 4
Faculty and University programs 5
Facilities 5
Graduate Studios
Program Structure and Curriculum 6
Year One / ExplorationYear Two / IntegrationYear Three / ThesisCourse Descriptions
Other Curriculum 9
Description of Graduate Credits
Integrated Research Electives 9
Critiques and ReviewsWriting PortfolioReview Timeline
Final MFA Project 10
MFA Exhibition and DefenseFinal Written StatementWork Documentation to be Retained by AAHD
Committee Formation and Structure 11
Changes to Committees
Funding 13
Other Financial ResourcesWhat to Expect Each YearFinancial AidEmergency Loans
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Teaching 14
Professional Conduct and Conflict Resolution 15
Ethical Mentoring 16
Academic and Program Policies 16
ResidenceOff-campus StudyStudy Abroad / Study AwaySummer ExperienceTransfer CreditsTime LimitProbation, Termination, and WithdrawalAcademic Standards and Grading PoliciesApplication to Graduate
Graduate School Policies 18
Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative ActivitiesResponsible Conduct of Research RequirementsCITI Module Navigation
Other University Services and Policies 19
Office of Institutional EquityRelationship Violence and Sexual MisconductAccommodations for DisabilityStudent Parent Resource CenterReligious HolidaysGrief Absence Policy
Faculty and Staff Directory 21
FacultyStaff
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Welcome to Michigan State!
The Michigan State University MFA program seeks highly motivated students who have the artistic andscholarly vision to guide us into equitable, sustainable, and creative futures. We encourage new formsof rigorous artistic expression, design innovations, scholarship, and community outreach that makemeaningful contributions and transcend usual constraints.
The MSU MFA program provides full funding for all MFA students, covering the entire three-yearprogram. Professional development grants, generous MFA completion fellowships, summerfellowships, and rich international programs/travel abroad opportunities are available as well asteaching assistantships, pedagogical development courses, and select research assistantships. Theprogram draws from the unique expertise of faculty and technical staff from within the Department ofArt, Art History, and Design (AAHD), combining it with that of other world-class faculty from programsacross the campus.
Whether focused within or across disciplines, the MSU MFA student is characterized by a desire topush beyond the boundaries of existing art and design paradigms. Each MFA student therefore definesand customizes their own integrative, multi-disciplinary or media-focused program under the guidanceof a faculty committee selected by the student. Utilizing a recursive approach, student artists/scholarswork with their committee to refine their research and artistic goals and to develop a unique projectand written thesis.
AAHD encourages our MFA students to deepen our understanding of the human condition throughwork that intersects productively with ideas of culture, identity, technology, and science. MSU is thepioneer Land Grant institution and, as such, has as its express mandate “to democratize highereducation and expand its opportunities based on merit, not social class.” Our MFA program seeks toexpand our empathic understanding, cultivate the voices of underserved populations and ideas, andmitigate and critique damage done to ecologies, marginalized cultures, and the environment broughtabout by several centuries of colonialist pursuits. Together, we ask how art and design can work with,through, or even against constraints like media, culture, science, technology, capitalism, and society tocreate sustainable futures built on strong communities that value and maximize the potential of everyindividual.
The MSU MFA program values and understands diversity. Diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender,age, socio-economic status, religion, and politics but also extends to include aesthetic orientation,educational background, job experience, and technical skills. The MFA program seeks students withvision and the potential for excellence, in whatever form that might take.
AAHD is led by a chairperson who is a member of the faculty. Working closely with the Chair is theDirector of Graduate Studies (DGS), who is the administrative head of the MFA program and the initialpoint of contact for all graduate students. The DGS is advised by a Graduate Committee of faculty thatincludes two student representatives. Students are also involved in committees regarding curriculumand, in some cases, hiring. The DGS is also a liaison to the College Graduate Committee, which is led bythe Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).
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Both the DGS and the Associate Dean are liaisons to MSU’s Graduate School, which sets overallguidelines for students’ rights and responsibilities and negotiates the terms of employment with theGraduate Employees Union (GEU). Links to CAL and Graduate School documents are providedthroughout this handbook. All of these people are here to assist, clarify policies, and otherwise makelife easier for graduate students.
AAHD Faculty and University Programs
AAHD is home to more than fifty faculty and staff members, including more than twenty-fivetenure-system faculty. AAHD faculty have particular strengths in design practice and theory, abstract,experimental, and figurative painting, print media, installation, sculpture, ceramics and materialsstudies, photography, art and science, digital fabrication and intermedia, apparel and textile design, artcriticism, history, and visual culture studies, performative exhibition practices, social practice, andactivism. Many faculty participate in interdisciplinary initiatives in and beyond the College of Arts andLetters, such as the Center for Interdisciplinarity; Experience Architecture; Digital Humanities; Artsand Cultural Management and Museum Studies; Film Studies; Women’s and Gender Studies; AmericanIndian and Indigenous Studies; Asian Studies; African Studies; African and African American Studies;and Global Studies. Plus, the MSU Archives has one of the best comic book collections in the world.
As a Research 1 university, MSU is committed to advanced study across an extensive range of fieldswith particularly strong programs in the humanities and music, the natural and social sciences,engineering and technology, agriculture, and education. The university also has two medical colleges, aveterinary college, law and business colleges, and a college of communication art and sciences. Facultyfrom any of these fields can also serve as external members to a student’s guidance committee whenappropriate to the student’s goals.
Additionally, AAHD has a strong relationship with the new Zaha Hadid-designed Eli and Edythe BroadMuseum of Art, one of only a few contemporary art museums to reside on a university campus. Allgraduate students have the opportunity to exhibit in the museum as a part of their thesis requirementand can apply for museum employment. In addition, there are several departmental galleries on andoff-campus for which student assistantships are available.
The department brings artists, designers, and scholars to campus through our lecture series and artistresidency programs: the Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series; the Bridge Artist-in-ResidenceProgram which brings a group of internationally renowned artists, designers, critics, and scholars tocampus each year to explore new artistic forms and transmedia projects; and the Critical Race StudiesArtist Residency, which is designed to empower cultural transformation through a shared engagementwith creative artistic practices.
Facilities
AAHD houses facilities to support work in apparel and textile design, art education, art history, andvisual culture, ceramics, electronic art and intermedia, graphic design, painting, photography,printmaking, and sculpture. All graduate students have access to all facilities for the making of art and
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design, although some areas require special training. The ceramics, metal, woodshop, and Form fromThought Lab require annual safety training certificates (see MFA Forms), under the direction oftechnicians. All areas can be introduced to students through coursework or by special arrangementwith faculty and/or specialists.
Students are invited to display works-in-progress as needed within AAHD spaces, but they arerequired to consult with the graduate secretary about where and when that work can beaccommodated.
Graduate StudiosEvery graduate student will be given the use of either a private or semi-private studio in consultationwith the DGS. Of the semi-private spaces in KAC, there are five on the third floor, three on the secondfloor, one on the ground floor, four inside the ceramics studio, and two in the sculpture annex. Thereare also private studios on the second floor of KAC and the sculpture annex. Students are given24-hour access to studios, which can be occupied by graduate students from shortly after orientationto June 1 on the year of graduation. There is a final walk-through procedure (see MFA Forms). Keysmust be returned at the time of the walk-through.
Program Structure and Curriculum
The summary of degree requirements is found on the registrar’s office website.
Year One / Exploration
In the first year, graduate students work with their assigned exploration committees to explore thecampus and all that it has to offer, including faculty expertise, facilities, and resources within andbeyond AAHD. In addition to taking studio credits overseen by their assigned committee, students alsohave the option of taking courses including independent studies in integrated research electives. In theFall semester, students take a first-year seminar designed to broaden their perspectives on art anddesign and contextualize their practice, In the Spring semester, students take a first-year seminarfocused on the theory and practice of pedagogy, which they will complete alongside their firstassignment as instructors-of-record.
10 Credits Each Semester
STA 890 Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Exploring Research, Resources, and Context (FALL)STA 891 Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Teaching and Pedagogical Practice in Studio Art (SPRING)STA 895 Master of Fine Arts Studio: Exploration and Research in Studio Art (FALL/SPRING)STA 897 Critique (FALL/SPRING)
Integrated Research (FALL and/or SPRING)
Year One Milestones▨ Minimum 8 credits of STA 895▨ 2 credits of Critique▨ Minimum 1 Integrated Research credit external to AAHD
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▨ Minimum 4 full committee meetings (2 per semester)▨ 1 semester of non-teaching observation (two full rotations)▨ Minimum 10 faculty visits, including minimum one external to AAHD▨ A formative written statement on work at the end of each semester▨ Identification of a guidance committee▨ Optional summer study experience (away/abroad/residency, etc)
Year Two / Integration
In the second year, graduate students integrate their experiences. Continuing to work with mentors inand out of their primary modes of practice, students take two seminars in the theory and history of artand in research practices. These seminars, conducted by members of the art history faculty, alsodevelop student skills in writing about artistic practice in context, including their own. The second-yearmarks the midway point through the MFA program. Students will present their work to be reviewed bytheir guidance committee. As part of the last review at the end of the second year and before thestudent’s final year of work, the student will discuss with the Guidance Committee the focus of thefinal research project.
10 credits total per semester
HA 801 Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Art Theory (FALL)HA 802 Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Research Methods for Artists and Designers (SPRING)STA 896 Master of Fine Arts Studio: Integration in Studio Art (FALL/SPRING)STA 897 Critique (FALL/SPRING)
Integrated Research (FALL and/or SPRING)
Year Two Milestones▨ Minimum 8 credits of STA 896▨ Formative statement on work in conjunction w/ second yr review▨ Optional summer study experience (away/abroad/residency, etc)
Year Three / Thesis
In the third year, graduate students prepare to complete their experience at MSU. Their primaryprojects include the preparation of their MFA exhibition project and a written statement. In the Fallsemester, students take the professional seminar, which allows students to develop their skills andresults in the production of a professional dossier. In the Spring, students present their final project forapproval by their committee, mount their exhibition, and complete their written statement. The finalelements of the degree are an oral final certifying defense, a public presentation in the Eli and EdytheBroad Art Museum co-organized by the museum and AAHD, and a deposit of documentation of work inthe AAHD departmental archive.
10 credits total per semester
STA 893 Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Professional Practice (FALL)
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STA 898 Master of Fine Arts Studio: Final Research Project (FALL/SPRING)STA 897 Critique (FALL and/or SPRING)
STA Elective (SPRING)
Year Three Milestones▨ Finalize Professional Portfolio▨ Minimum 13 credits in STA 898 for the final research project▨ Outreach (exhibition, public presentation)▨ Oral certifying defense
Course Descriptions
STA 890 (3 credits)Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Exploring Research, Resources, and ContextA research-focused course designed to broaden perspectives on art and design. Exposure todiverse resources, media, techniques, and theories both, internal and external to art anddesign. Analysis and incorporation of varied philosophical, historical, and contemporaryperspectives. Contextualization of individual artistic practice and integration of externalknowledge into studio methodologies.
STA 891 (3 credits)Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Teaching and Pedagogical Practice in Studio ArtCurrent issues and practices in Studio Art course/curriculum design. Approaches to courseplanning, critiques, and assessment. Development of course outcomes and expectations. Roleof conceptual, formal, and technical issues. Diversity in studio art pedagogy.
STA 893 (3 credits)Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Professional SeminarContemporary professional development in the visual arts: reading, writing, presentation,critique and revision, conferences, professional activities, and employment.
STA 895 (variable credit)Master of Fine Arts Studio: Exploration and Research in Studio ArtAdvanced study in Studio Art focused on exploration and intersection of ideation and form andextended development in chosen media(s). The chair of the first-year exploration committeeserves as instructor of record, but the entire committee reviews and evaluates artistic andwritten work.
STA 896 (variable credit)Master of Fine Arts Studio: Integration in Studio ArtFurther study in Studio Art focused on the increased integration of form and content.Individual artistic development. The major professor serves as instructor of record, but theentire committee reviews and evaluates artistic and written work.
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STA 897 (1 credit)CritiquePresentation of artwork to faculty, peers, and community in a group setting. Communication ofessential ideas, and incorporation of criticism.
STA 898 (variable credit)Master of Fine Arts Final Research ProjectIndividual final research project directed by a major professor and guidance committee. Themajor professor serves the instructor of record, but the entire committee reviews andevaluates artistic and written work.
HA 801 (3 credits)Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Art TheoryFamiliarize the students with key issues in the theory of art in the present. Students becomeproficient in reading art theoretical debates. Students gain mastery of art historical writing.
HA 802 (3 credits)Master of Fine Arts Seminar: Research Methods for Artists and DesignersCourse introduces methods of research as used by contemporary artists and designers. Thecourse includes a selection of artistic case studies, as well as practical sessions and projectsimplementing a series of methods for research.
Other Curriculum
Description of Graduate CreditsAAHD follows the national standard for the measure of credit hours in an academic program. Eachcredit hour is equivalent to 45 work hours, per semester, so a typical three-credit course shouldrequire 135 total hours of in-class and outside work. Graduate studio hours are often relativelyindependent, but there should be significant contact with faculty and the overall work time shouldfollow the 45-hour rule. Students are able to shape their degree programs to a large extent byallocating different amounts of credit to different requirements across the three years. First-Year andGuidance committees, along with the graduate secretary and Director of Graduate Studies, shouldadvise students about this aspect of the program.
Integrated Research ElectivesIntegrated Research is any elective within or beyond AAHD. These credits are intended to enhance thedepth of studio practice. During the first year of the MFA, 1 hour of Integrated Research credits mustreside in credit hours external to AAHD. A minimum of 4 credit hours over the entire degree programmust be taken outside of AAHD, with graduate committee approval. Students are strongly encouragedto take advantage of the rich academic diversity in the department and across campus, while filling theIntegrated electives component of their education and to use the experience to broaden and deepentheir exploration, integration, and final research and creative practice.
Course work will be chosen from available MSU courses at the 400 level or above or developedthrough independent study under appropriate AAHD and non-AAHD faculty supervision and must be
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approved by the student’s graduate committee. Both AAHD and non-AAHD coursework are chosen tosupplement, extend, or develop some aspects of the final research project or preparation for it. Thestudent should consider how learning and research integrate into their studio and written finalresearch project. In the last semester, students have the option to take elective course credits in studioart and/or critique.
Critiques and ReviewsStudents should expect the critique of their work to be a significant aspect of their educationalexperience. In this MFA program, feedback loops will be facilitated in two distinct categories: thecritique class and committee review. This MFA program is cohort-centric and as such, each class (ie firstyear, second year, etc) will progress through the program together. The critique class is intended tobring all graduate students together for formative discussions on works-in-progress. These crits aredesigned to allow students to define the parameters under which they will thrive and set a tone ofproductive and healthy debate. A faculty member will be assigned to facilitate this one-credit courseand to manage the logistics of the students’ gatherings.
Committee-led progress reviews are separate from the critique class and happen individually withgraduate students and their committees (first-year and guidance committees). These reviews center onthe graduate student’s work and progress toward completion of the MFA degree. It is expected thatthe committee reviews will happen no fewer than twice per semester in all years of the program,preferably at the mid-term and the end of the semester.
Writing PortfolioEach semester, students will prepare a self-evaluation of their practice and pathway of study. Theseformative efforts combine cumulative writing of 3-5 pages of reflection and analysis per semester,drawing upon feedback from faculty in critiques, studio coursework, seminars, and integrated researchelectives. This process will be central to the preparation of the written statement, which reflects uponand integrates parts of the portfolio.
Review TimelineStudents must meet with their exploration or guidance committees twice per semester to discuss andevaluate their work and progress. Please see the section on committees for further information.
Final MFA Project
The culminating artistic project for the graduate program has two major parts: one, the MFAexhibition, which is held each Spring at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, two, the writtenstatement. Students also perform a final oral certifying defense of their exhibition project, give a publicpresentation of their work at the Broad Art Museum, and deposit documentation of their work in theAAHD department archive.
MFA Exhibition and DefenseStudents work with faculty and Broad staff to develop a proposal for the exhibition, according to aschedule that is negotiated between AAHD and the museum. The exhibition process takes the better
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part of the third year. Student proposals are shaped by ongoing discussions with faculty and museumstaff. Sample materials for the preparation of the exhibition proposal are included as an appendix to thehandbook but are subject to change.
Two weeks before installing their MFA exhibition students must present their final project for approvalby their committee. After the exhibition is mounted, a final oral certifying defense will be held (beforethe deadline set by the Graduate School for oral exams). One week before this final oral certifyingdefense, a final written statement will be given to members of the Guidance Committee.
Final Written StatementThe statement draws upon the portfolio of writing produced over the course of students’ time in the
department and is a substantial statement of artistic intent and research. At the time of the review,the student should be prepared to discuss critically and defend the hypothesis and results ofboth the art work produced and their statement.
Work Documentation to be Retained by the DepartmentTo complete the requirements for the degree, you must electronically submit up to twenty images, awritten summary statement, and a current CV (a D2L Link will be made available). The visual materialsmust be of high quality and accompanied by a label information document (name, title, size, date, andmedium) and will be cataloged in the Visual Resources Library of the Department of Art, Art History,and Design. Students retain copyright to all art and design work created in the Department of Art, ArtHistory, and Design, but they grant a non-exclusive license to exhibit, display, or reproduce these worksat the discretion of faculty.
Committee Formation and Structure
Graduate students work with two types of committees during their time in the MFA program. Thefirst-year exploration committee is deliberately multi-disciplinary in its make-up, as a group designedto facilitate the student’s introduction to the department and campus. This committee automaticallydissolves at the end of the first academic year to allow the student the opportunity to select their ownmentors. The guidance committee works with students in their second and third years. It is chosen bythe student and is more focused, facilitating the development and integration of the student’s work andtheir progress towards completion of the program. Students evaluate the committee members’teaching each semester (see MFA Forms).
Students are assigned an initial four-member, first-year exploration committee upon matriculation tothe MFA program. The selection of first-year exploration committees is the responsibility of theDirector of Graduate Studies in consultation with the admissions committee.
Faculty participating in first-year exploration committees are expected to engage with students abouttheir work and to facilitate students’ exploration of human and other resources in the department andacross campus. The primary advisor is responsible for organizing full exploration committee meetingswith reviews twice a semester, and providing written feedback from the committee at least once asemester. Written feedback addresses student development and engagement in a summative manner.
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More formative feedback comes through one-on-one or smaller group meetings, which can and shouldoccur on a more informal basis, along with visits with other faculty. Students are expected to followthrough on faculty offers of assistance and to work with individual members of the committee todevelop a broad understanding of the campus and all it has to offer. By the end of the first year,students will be expected to have met with a minimum of ten faculty (inclusive of their first-yearexploration committee), including one faculty member from outside of AAHD.
Faculty members participating in first-year exploration committees should have teachingresponsibilities across the entire academic year, because committee service is classified as teachingand because regular attendance on campus is so important to the correct functioning of the committee.Students are of course welcome to meet with faculty on temporary research assignments as part oftheir exploration of the campus.
Before the end of their first year, the student is responsible for selecting a Major Professor and aguidance committee. Major professors should be an art or design voting and teaching faculty memberin AAHD. The guidance committee should consist of up to five members and must be approved by theDirector of Graduate Studies. Guidance committees can include a faculty member from outside ofAAHD, and, under special circumstances, from outside of MSU. External committee members mustcommit to attending the student’s thesis defense at the end of the third year, and to attend yearlycommittee meetings at least by electronic means. External committee members should also beencouraged to attend at least one exhibition review during the thesis year.
Guidance committees must meet at least twice each semester. Some full-committee meetingsconstitute important reviews of student work, including the first-year review, the midway review, thesecond-year review, and the final oral certifying defense. More formative feedback comes in otherfull-committee meetings. One-on-one or small group meetings can and should occur on a moreinformal basis.
Faculty serving on guidance committees are expected to assist students in the development andintegration of their work across aspects of their practice, helping to shape their progress toward thefinal project. This includes a review of work-in-progress, reading of formative reflective writing, andassistance in building a professional portfolio in the final year. The major professor should spearheadthe scheduling of full-committee meetings. Students are expected to meet regularly with committeemembers and to make their written and artistic work available, keeping in mind the time needed toadequately assess and comment upon work. In general, a minimum of two weeks for the preparation ofwritten comments on writing or letters of recommendation is required.
Changes to CommitteesThe graduate student has ultimate control over the makeup of their committee as guided by theparameters of the program and graduate school policies. When a change of membership of a student’sguidance committee would best serve the progress of the graduate student in their program, thestudent should meet with the major professor and the graduate director to select another committeemember. If the student feels that a change in major professor would best serve their progress, thestudent should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to initiate a change.
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For more information about MSU’s procedures for committee formation can be found in section 2.4 ofthe Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities document.
Funding
Graduate students at MSU receive two types of funding: graduate assistantships and graduatefellowships. An assistantship is employment related to teaching or research, while a fellowship doesnot involve work. Assistantships offer tuition waivers and health insurance: students are automaticallyenrolled in a health insurance plan with the premium paid by the university. Enrolled students mayinsure an eligible spouse and/or dependent children residing with the insured. Whatever the form ofsupport, the MFA program provides full-tuition waivers that cover ten credits per semester and sixtycredits total over three years. While funding for the year is guaranteed, it is contingent upon goodstanding in the program.
A general discussion of funding for graduate students can be found here. This section of the graduatehandbook discusses rules and policies associated with both assistantships and fellowships.
The primary form of support for most students is assistantships. During the first semester, studentsare employed as teaching assistants, and thereafter they are most often employed asinstructors-of-record. Other graduate assistantships include work in the department-run galleryspaces.
Other Financial ResourcesStudents apply for summer support, as well as smaller grants and awards throughout the program. TheCollege of Arts and Letters summarizes the various forms of other funding available to graduatestudents here. Grants include the College of Arts and Letters SCRAM (Summer College ResearchAbroad Monies) and the Varg-Sullivan Award for outstanding national/international exhibitions orpublications. Students can also apply in their second year for the AAHD Selma & Stanley HollanderFellowship, which assists students in the final year of study, and the DCF (Degree/DissertationCompletion Fellowship) from the graduate school, which releases students from teaching for onesemester in their final year.
What to expect each year:
Incoming and First Year Graduate StudentsFor the Year: first-semester graduate students receive an assistantship for teaching, and willassist and observe faculty mentors in the classroom. Most can expect to be instructors ofrecord beginning in their second semester. Competitive research funding support is alsoavailable.
For the Summer: competition for funding for research from the Graduate SchoolFor Travel: competition for conference and research travel from the College of Arts & Lettersand/or the Graduate School; read more here
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Second Year Graduate StudentsFor the Year: most graduate students can expect to be instructors of record for bothsemesters. Competitive research funding support is also available.
For the Summer: competition for funding for research from the Graduate School or forSummer College Research Abroad Monies (SCRAM)For Travel: competition for conference and research travel from the College of Arts & Lettersand/or the Graduate School
Third Year Graduate StudentsFor the Year: many students compete for a Dissertation Completion Fellowship to replace onesemester of teaching assistantship. Otherwise, students can expect to be instructors of recordfor both semesters. Competitive research funding support is also available.For Travel: competition for conference and research travel from the College of Arts & Lettersand/or the Graduate School
Financial AidStudents are also eligible to apply for financial aid through the Federal Student Aid system. Studentsshould be aware that if they file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, take the fullamount and then receive additional funding from the department or graduate school, that couldunnecessarily trigger a re-evaluation of need at any time during the program. If students findthemselves in this situation, they should contact MSU’s Financial Aid office and the Director ofGraduate Studies for more information.
Emergency LoansStudents experiencing financial hardship should contact the graduate secretary and Director ofGraduate Studies. Every effort to assist students will be made, within the regulations of the graduateschool and university.
Teaching
Students spend their first semester in the program as teaching assistants working with facultyprimarily engaged with the Foundations program. Students will have more than one experience acrossthe semester, in which they will not only observe, but work to create and implement parts ofassignments and assist in assessing the work of students. They are also invited to observe facultyteaching outside of the Foundations program. Tasks will vary depending on assignment.
From the second semester of the program forward, students can serve as instructors-of-record incourses or hold other graduate assistantships in the department. Student preferences forappointments are solicited (see, for example, MFA Forms) and balanced with the needs of thedepartment. Training and supervision specific to instructor course assignments are providedthroughout the program.
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AAHD, CAL, and the Graduate School are all committed to student development in the area of teachingand learning. MFA students’ initial training in pedagogy comes in the first year through their teachingassistantship, introduction to curriculum, and through a seminar taken in the second semester. Furtheropportunities to develop a teaching portfolio include the University Graduate Certification in CollegeTeaching (CCT), which is facilitated in CAL by the Dean’s Office and includes training in onlinepedagogy and course design. The professional seminar, taken in the third year, guides students as theyfinalize their teaching portfolio.
Professional Conduct and Conflict Resolution
The Department of Art, Art History and Design is a community that values inclusion. Faculty andgraduate students are expected to uphold these values both within and outside the classroom.Professional conduct includes collegial, non-abusive conduct and respect of others’ viewpoints. Allmembers of our creative community are expected to be responsible, self-motivated in the pursuit oftheir research, and demonstrate a willingness to share and cooperate with others.
As faculty in an academic program, we share some common standards about what constitutesappropriate professional conduct, and it is our responsibility to share these standards with graduatestudents. Our collective understanding of these professional standards comes from our own practicesas respected professionals in the disciplines and fields that constitute Art, Art History, and Design, andfrom our common belief that humans in general should treat each other decently, with respect andgenerosity.
In general, we believe that appropriate professional conduct includes:A. respect for others’ personhood and diversity of personhood, including but not limited to race,
color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, style of dress, manner of speaking, politicalviewpoint, etc.;
B. a shared commitment to basic values such as fairness, equity, honesty, and respect;C. honest and accurate representation of one’s identity, credentials, and professional background
(e.g., no inflation of status or experiences on one’s vita, and accurate representation ofcontributions to committee work or to collaborative projects and publications);
D. awareness that appropriate professional conduct does not entail the transfer or appropriationof the work of others without shared decision-making, credit, and benefits—a standard for howto work appropriately within a community and to collaborate professionally;
E. acknowledgment of the collaborative and social nature of the scholarly enterprise, whichextends beyond use of formal scholarly citations to an acknowledgment of how fellow scholarshave helped one to form ideas, review drafts, suggest revisions, etc.;
F. respect for one’s intellectual and creative ancestors, especially for those who created thediscipline within which one works;
G. actively and respectively listening to and engaging with people, their ideas, and how theyexperience (and represent) cultural and intellectual institutions;
H. respect for human subjects involved in research;
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I. explicit training of graduate students in sound disciplinary practices (including appropriatemethodological instruction) in core courses and in the interactions that we have with oneanother as colleagues.
Occasionally, problems between faculty and students may arise. Section 5.3 of the “Graduate StudentRights and Responsibilities” document counsels the following: “If problems arise in the relationshipbetween instructor and student, the parties shall attempt first to resolve them in informal, directdiscussions. If the problem remains unresolved, then the student shall consult with the unitadministrator.” For MFA students, “unit administrator” should first mean the Director of GraduateStudies and then, particularly if the DGS is involved, the Chair of the Department. In all cases, aninformal resolution is preferred. If it is not possible to achieve a resolution, students may approach theOffice of the Ombudsperson, who can help to resolve the question. If no resolution can be found, thena grievance may be filed according to the guidelines laid out by the Graduate School.
Ethical MentoringMentors are faculty members who take a special interest in helping students develop into successfulmembers of the profession by helping them optimize their education experiences, assist theirsocialization into interdisciplinary culture, advance their personal growth as professionals, and helpthem find a job when their degree is finished.
Effective mentoring is characterized by mutual trust, understanding, and respect for students’professional and personal needs. A successful mentor is prepared to deal with population-diversityissues, including ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Mentoring should beoriented around the guiding principles of the graduate program.
Good mentoring practices include the following:● careful, patient listening,● building a relationship with a student beyond the classroom,● using authority ethically,● nurturing self-sufficiency,● establishing focused time for one-on-one mentoring engagement,● sharing work and professional ethics,● providing introductions to important artists and scholars in the field,● offering constructive feedback, and● providing personalized training and advice about the formation of a professional profile and
the formation of a professional ethos in the student’s chosen field/discipline.
Academic and Program Policies
ResidenceThe MSU MFA is a fully residential program of three academic years. Students are welcome to travelduring summers and other breaks but are otherwise required to remain in residence in East Lansingunless they participate in an approved exchange program. The student must earn a minimum of 6
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credits in the degree program in residence on campus during the final two semesters of enrollment inthe program. Exceptions to this policy must have the prior approval of the student’s GuidanceCommittee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Off-Campus StudyOpportunities to study outside of MSU exist, whether at peer institutions in the Big Ten or throughinternational institutions. Students are invited to consider such opportunities in consultation with theirguidance committees.
Study Abroad / Study AwayWhere there is an exceptional fit of a study abroad/study away experience with the development andprogress of MFA candidates, the Director of Graduate Studies should be apprised of their admission toensure rationale is being considered in consultation with guidance committees. MFA students shouldwork with the study abroad/study away instructors, the Office of Education Abroad, their majorprofessor and/or committee, and the CAL Dean’s office to ensure their experience comes at as low acredit load as possible. Not more than three credits outside of an instructor’s area of expertise may beoffered to graduates. Graduate study abroad should generally be independent study appropriate tolevel and circumstance. For further information, please see the AAHD Study Abroad/Study AwayPolicy.
Summer ExperienceStudents are encouraged to conduct research on and off campus which could include residenciesduring their first and/or second summers. Students should consider such opportunities in consultationwith their exploration or guidance committees.
Transfer CreditsTransfer credits are not accepted, unless they have been completed through an off-campus plan ofstudy approved by the major professor and/or guidance committee, Director of Graduate Studies, andChair. Credits must be completed within the time limit for the degree.
Time LimitThe time limit for the completion of the requirements for the MFA is six calendar years from the date ofenrollment in the first course included for degree certification.
Probation, Termination, and WithdrawalProbation in the program of study occurs:
a. Upon accumulation of 4 credits below 3.0b. As a result of a failed first attempt at an annual reviewc. As a result of a failed first attempt at Final Review
Termination from the program of study occurs:a. Upon accumulation of the 7th credit below 3.0 in courses counted toward the degreeb. As a result of a second failed attempt at an annual reviewc. As a consequence of any probationary reviewd. Upon failure to meet College and University degree requirements
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e. Upon accumulation of 9 credits of deferred credit, not including STA 898f. As a result of research misconduct or dishonestyg. As a result of a failed second attempt at Final Review
A letter of warning will be sent to a student by the Graduate Director when termination is beingconsidered. The letter will explain the expectations, procedures, and timeline necessary to remain inthe program.
Withdrawal from Michigan State University must be initiated by the student. The student is expectedto communicate withdrawal with their Major Professor and AAHD Graduate Director prior toinitiating withdrawal procedures.
Academic Standards and Grading PoliciesDuring the semester leading to the completion of the first year, students must participate in thefirst-year review. At the end of the second year of study, students will participate in a Second-yearreview. A student may accumulate no more than 9 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are tobe counted toward the degree.
Incompletes may be taken for medical reasons. Students are required to complete the work for thecourse by the midpoint of the semester following the incomplete.
Application to GraduateCandidates for the Master of Fine Arts program must complete the online graduation application formon or before the end of the first week of the semester you expect to complete your degreerequirements.
Graduate School Policies
Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative ActivitiesEach student and graduate advisor is provided with document guidelines for Integrity in Research andcreative activities. For more information about MSU’s policies on copyright, plagiarism, and intellectualproperty, etc, refer to the graduate school’s website found here.
All students must follow Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities includingacademic honesty, crediting of published and unpublished work of others properly, collegiality inscholarly interactions and sharing of resources, and compliance with institutional requirements.
All students must adhere to the Office of Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Safety (ORCBS)regulations and policies concerning safety and security in materials use. Approval from UniversityCommittee for Research Involving Human Subjects (UCRIHS) and/or from the All-UniversityCommittee for Animal Use and Care (AUC/AUC) must be granted in advance of any project usinganimal or human subjects if needed. Information on how to comply can be found athumanresearch.msu.edu and aucauc.msu.edu.
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While it is the responsibility of the student to be aware of and comply with such requirements,practical assistance on material safety and security can be offered by departmental safety officers andfaculty advisors.
Responsible Conduct of Research Requirements (RCR)Integrity in research and creative activities is based not only on sound disciplinary practice but also ona commitment to basic personal values such as fairness, equity, honesty, and respect. These guidelinesare intended to promote high professional standards by everyone—faculty, staff, and students alike.
Students are required to complete all RCR requirements in order to graduate. Those requirementsinclude the following:
1. Verification of successful completion of all four CITI Modules: Introduction to the ResponsibleConduct of Research, Authorship, Plagiarism, and Research Misconduct, must be printed/savedand emailed to AAHD Graduate Secretary, LouAnne Snider, by the end of the first semester ofenrollment.
2. Faculty initiate six hours of discussion-based training in RCR in the following courses: STA 890,the first MFA seminar, STA 891, the MFA pedagogy seminar, and STA 893, MFA ProfessionalSeminar.
CITI Module Navigation- Go to the MSU Office of Regulatory Affairs website- Login to CITI- Go to "Add a Course"- Select "Not at this time" for sections #1 & #2- Select "MSU Graduate School RCR Program" in #3- Select "Not at this time" for section #4- Do not select anything in section #5- Select "no" for #6
Go back to the CITI home page and click on the MSU Graduate School RCR Program course. Once youopen the course, it will take you through all the required modules. Remember to print/save yoursuccessful (passing) completion of the module(s).
Other University Services and Policies
Office of Institutional EquityThe Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) reviews concerns related to discrimination and harassmentbased on age, color, gender, gender identity, disability status, height, marital status, national origin,political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and weight under the University'sAnti-Discrimination Policy (ADP) and Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM).OIE staff is available to provide information on the policies, connect MSU community members toresources, investigate complaints, and provide training.
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Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM)Most MSU employees are mandatory reporters of violations of the Relationship Violence and SexualMisconduct policy. Employees are obligated to promptly report incidents of sexual harassment, sexualviolence, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, stalking, and relationship violence that (1) areobserved or learned about in their professional capacity; and (2) involve a member of the universitycommunity or occurred at a university-sponsored event or on university property. Employees are onlyrequired to report relationship violence and sexual misconduct of which they become aware in theircapacity as a University employee, not in their personal capacity. If, as a student or employee, you needto file a report of RVSM, you can do so here. Such complaints are handled through the MSU Policeand/or the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), which reviews concerns related to discrimination andharassment based on age, color, gender, gender identity, disability status, height, marital status,national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and weight underthe University's Anti-Discrimination Policy (ADP) and Policy on Relationship Violence and SexualMisconduct (RVSM).
Accommodations for DisabilityThe Resource Center for People with Disabilities (RCPD) is committed to lead Michigan StateUniversity in maximizing ability and opportunity for full participation by persons with disabilities.Students may work with RCPD to identify and report a disability, generating an accommodation planthat assists faculty and students in their work together without disclosing personal information.
If conflicts should arise from issues of disability, an informal resolution is preferred. If, as a student oremployee, you need to file a report regarding discrimination on the basis of disability, please follow theregular departmental grievance policy first, by informing the DGS and, if appropriate, the Chair. If noinformal resolution can be found within the department, then the OIE will review such concerns underthe University’s Anti-Discrimination Policy (ADP).
Student Parent Resource CenterThe SPRC provides support, resources, campus, and community connections for all MSU studentparents through graduation and beyond. In addition, this office helps non-traditional students achievetheir goals, create two-generation success, and establish long-term connections with the University.
Religious HolidaysMichigan State University has long had the policy to permit students, faculty/academic staff, andsupport staff to observe those holidays set aside by their chosen religious faith. Information on thereligious holiday calendar and how to accommodate religious observation in instructional activities isavailable here.
Grief absence policyAAHD is sensitive to the bereavement process of students who have lost a family member or who isexperiencing emotional distress from a similar tragedy and we work to accommodate students so thatthey are not academically disadvantaged in their classes or other academic work. The university policyemphasizes the student’s responsibility to notify the guidance committee chair and the DGS, if needed,to provide verification, and to complete all missed work. The guidance committee chair will work withthe student to determine the length of the absence, to receive verification, and to make reasonableaccommodations so that the student is not penalized for the absence.
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Department of Art, Art History, and Design Directory / Faculty
Tom BerdingProfessorPainting316 KAC / [email protected]
Rebekah BlesingAssistant ProfessorFoundations31 KAC / [email protected]
Adam BrownAssociate ProfessorElectronic Art & Intermedia27B KAC / [email protected]
Ryan ClaytorAssistant ProfessorComics & Graphic Novels206 UPLA / [email protected]
Laura CloudAssociate ProfessorSculpture21 KAC / [email protected]
Chris CornealAssociate ProfessorGraphic Design26A KAC / [email protected]
D’ann DeSimoneProfessorPrintmaking321 KAC / [email protected]
Benjamin DukeAssociate ProfessorFoundations318 KAC / [email protected]
Teresa DunnAssociate ProfessorPainting315 KAC / [email protected]
Phylis FloydAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture25 KAC / [email protected]
Jon FreyAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture105 D KAC / [email protected]
Xia GaoAssociate ProfessorApparel & Textile Design216 UPLA / [email protected]
Peter GlendinningProfessorPhotography219 KAC / [email protected]
Jens HauserDistinguished AffiliatedFaculty MemberElectronic Art & [email protected]
Alisa HenriquezProfessorPainting319 KAC / [email protected]
Anning JingProfessorArt History & Visual Culture323 KAC / [email protected]
Zach KaiserAssociate ProfessorGraphic Design27A KAC / [email protected]
Candace KellerAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture324 KAC / [email protected]
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Paul KotulaAssociate ProfessorCeramics22 KAC / [email protected]
Kiersten LathamAssociate ProfessorArts & Cultural [email protected]
Jae Won LeeProfessorCeramics, Foundations313 KAC / [email protected]
Robert McCannAssociate ProfessorFoundations Coordinator317 KAC / [email protected]
Marsha MacDowellProfessorArt History & Visual [email protected]
Kelly Salchow MacarthurProfessorGraphic Design26B KAC / [email protected]
Abhishek NarulaAssistant ProfessorApparel & Textile [email protected]
Saetbyul ParkAssistant ProfessorApparel & Textile Design207 UPLA / [email protected]
Rebecca SchuilingAssistant ProfessorApparel & Textile Design215 UPLA / [email protected]
Lara ShipleyAssistant ProfessorPhotography314 KAC / [email protected]
Laura SmithAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture105E KAC / [email protected]
Rebecca TegtmeyerAssociate ProfessorGraphic Design26C KAC / [email protected]
Benjamin Van DykeAssociate Chair,Director of GraduateStudiesAssociate Professor27C KAC / [email protected]
Blake WilliamsAssociate ProfessorCeramics20 KAC / [email protected]
Theresa WingeAssociate ProfessorApparel & Textile Design214 UPLA / [email protected]
Lily WoodruffAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture322 KAC / [email protected]
Karin ZitzewitzDepartment ChairAssociate ProfessorArt History & Visual Culture113 KAC / [email protected]
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Department of Art, History, and Design Directory / Staff
Erica HookerAcademic Advisor105C KAC / [email protected]
Sarah JacksonAssistant to the Chair113B KAC / [email protected]
Suzanne Manuel ReedBudget, Facilities, andPersonnel Administrator113C KAC / [email protected]
Michael McCuneCeramics & 3D Technician17A KAC / [email protected]
Alex NicholsAcademic TechnologyCoordinator, VisualResources Library32 KAC / [email protected]
Walt PeeblesWoodshop Technician6 KAC / [email protected]
Iryna SalenkoApparel & Textile DesignTechnician2178 UPLA / [email protected]
LouAnne SniderGraduate SecretaryBudget Assistant113A KAC / [email protected]
Jacquelynn SullivanDirector of GalleriesOutreach & ProgrammingCoordinatorTeaching Specialist105B KAC / [email protected]
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